How to Fix “USB Accessories Not Working” on a Mac

USB Accessories Not Working: Recently, many Mac users have been getting an error message that says, “USB Accessories are disabled.” 

This usually happens when they use a USB-C hub with many different devices connected to it.

 When a Mac is connected to a camera, USB-C power cable, USB drive or disc, or a regular or gaming keyboard with a USB port, the error message may also show up, but it may not. 

Users should unplug the device, taking up a lot of power so the USB devices can work again, the alert says. 

So, without wasting time, let’s get it done right now! There are ways to fix “USB Accessories Disabled” on your Mac if you’ve also seen this message and are looking for ways to improve it.

How to Fix “USB Accessories Disabled” on a Mac with these 8 Tips (2022)

What could be causing the USB Accessories Disabled Error on a Mac to happen?

Unplug the device that’s consuming too much power to get USB devices back to working again, says the message that pops up. 

Alert: Based on the news, it’s clear that the problem is caused by a device that needs a lot of power. 

But what if the alert keeps popping up even when you plug in a less power-hungry accessory like a keyboard?

In this case, the problem could be caused by other things, such as a possible software bug.

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Remove and reconnect USB devices.

Unplug all of your USB devices and then plug them back in. This will help you fix the “USB Accessories Disabled” error on your Mac. 

To figure out what is wrong with your Mac, disconnect each USB device one at a time. It could also help put the USB-C devices that use more power first.

It is better to connect your external device to a different port.

Try plugging your external device into a different port on your Mac to see if that works better for your Mac. 

In this case, if the error message doesn’t show up when you plug in the accessory to a different port, that port could be to blame.

Ensure the port is clean and there is no dust or gunk inside. 

It helps to dampen a piece of cotton with isopropyl alcohol. 

Then, please put it in the port and move it around with a toothpick. 

It will help you get the dirt out of your dock.

Connect your external device to Your Mac by plugging it into the USB port.

USB or Thunderbolt hubs may be used to connect your external device. 

Check if you can join the external device directly to your Mac. In this case, your USB hub might be to blame.

Connect the USB or Thunderbolt Hub to an AC Adapter.

Are you using a USB or Thunderbolt hub that has its power? 

Is the USB/Thunderbolt hub plugged into an AC adapter if this is the case?

Turn off your Mac.

When you have a problem with your Mac, you should also try restarting it to see if that helps.

The first thing to do is remove all the USB devices. Then, click the Apple menu icon in the upper left corner of the screen. In the drop-down menu, choose “Restart.”

The USB devices should be plugged back in after your Mac restarts.

Restart the PRAM and NVRAM (Intel-Based).

NVRAM stands for nonvolatile random-access memory, which your Mac uses to store specific settings, such as the display resolution, sound volume, time zone, startup disc, and recent kernel panic information. 

NVRAM is used to store these settings. A PRAM (parameter RAM) is also used to keep the same settings.

 Resetting PRAM or NVRAM can often help you solve problems with macOS.

Turn off your Mac to start (Intel-based Macs). After some time, turn on the power to your computer.

Wait until you hear a start-up sound. Then hold down the Command, Option, P, and R keys together.

These keys should be held down as long as possible until your Mac restarts and you hear the start-up sound.

The SMC on your Mac should be turned off (Intel-Based)

No, there isn’t yet. There’s no need to worry. You can try resetting your Mac’s SMC (System Management Controller).

 For people who don’t know, SMC is in charge of many important things, like how the power button and the power button to the USB work, how the battery and charging work, how the fans work, and more. 

So, you might be able to solve this problem by resetting it.

Restart the SMC on MacBooks with the T2 chip.

When you’re done writing, shut down your notebook! Then, hold down the Control, Option (Alt), and Shift keys for 7 seconds, then let go of them and start again.

It’s time for another thing. Press and hold the power button as well. 

For another 7 seconds, hold down all four keys and then let go of them all at once. 

Next, please wait a few seconds and then press the power button on your Mac to start it up. 

This is the last step.

To reset the SMC, you can do this on Mac desktops with or without the T2 chip.

In this case, please turn off your Mac and then unplug the power cord from it. Before plugging in the power cord again, please wait for 15 seconds and then do it again.

After five seconds, press the power button on your computer to start it up.

Restart the SMC on MacBooks with a removable battery.

Plug your MacBook in, then take the battery out and shut it down.

You can now press and hold the power button for five seconds. Then, put the battery back in and press the power button on your laptop to start it up.

Reset SMC on MacBooks with Non-Removable Battery

In the Apple menu, choose Shut Down. After shutting down your notebook, hold down the Shift, Control, and Option keys and the power button at once.

Make sure to hold down all four keys for 10 seconds.

After that, release all the keys and press the power button to turn on your MacBook.

Note: There is no option to reset NVRAM/PRAM or SMC on Apple Silicon Macs. 

However, it would help if you didn’t worry about it as Apple Silicone Macs are designed to handle these functions by themselves.

You can force restart your Macs with an M-Series chip if need be. 

Press and hold the power button until your Mac turns off. Then, press the power button again to reboot your Mac.

Update Software on Your Mac

If USB accessories are still disabled on your Mac, there is a good chance that a software bug might be causing the issue. 

In this scenario, you should try updating the macOS device.

Launch System Preferences app on your Mac. Alternately, click on the Apple menu icon at the upper-left corner of the screen and choose System Preferences.

Now, click the Software Update pane. Then, wait for some time until your Mac has checked the available updates; if it shows any available updates, download and installs them as usual.